Boy Scouts of America, National Capital Area Council

The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law. National Capital Area Council (NCAC) was organized in 1911 and today stands as one of the oldest and largest councils in America.

The council territory is comprised of 23 districts serving ten counties in Northern Virginia, six counties in Maryland and the District of Columbia. NCAC currently serves nearly 50,000 youth (boys and girls) through the dedication of over 21,000 adult volunteers. The highly respected rank of Eagle Scout was earned by 1,400 Scouts last year and the Council was a Gold Award recipient for the third consecutive year of Journey to Excellence, Boy Scouts of America's national benchmarking program that recognizes councils that provide a high quality program at all levels of Scouting.

Building Strong Citizens - Shaping the Future of Our Youth

The vision for NCAC is to accomplish the mission of the Boy Scouts of America in such an exemplary manner as to be recognized as the premier youth organization in the communities we serve. NCAC Scouting programs provide local youth with a positive environment where they can maximize their own strengths and work at a pace that challenges them to be the best they can possibly be. Youth members are organized into local Scouting units (packs, troops, crews, teams, ships and/or posts), depending on their age and program. Each unit is chartered to a local community organization, including churches, civic clubs and community businesses. These units help support the local community and the programs help youth develop character, citizenship, personal fitness, career interests and an appreciation for the environment. This is accomplished through rank advancement, service to others and outdoor activities.

Success in the advancement program can be measured by the number of local youth who achieved Scouting's highest rank - Eagle Scout. To earn the Eagle Scout rank, the highest advancement rank in Scouting, a Boy Scout must fulfill requirements in the areas of leadership, service, and outdoor skills.

Service to others is reflected in the requirements for Eagle Scout as each candidate must complete an Eagle Scout community service project. However, all Scouts regardless of rank or age are encouraged to participate in community service. More than 463,761 community service hours were reported by area units for service projects completed by Scouts last year!

Scout Camp - Where Every Experience Makes A Life-Changing Difference

The time spent by youth at Scout Camp is not only about building campfires and spending time in nature. Scouts may not realize it at the time, but all of the challenges, triumphs, teamwork and fun they experienced at camp will help them on their way to becoming strong, confident leaders tomorrow. Guided by caring and committed mentors, boys gain self-confidence; develop leadership skills; learned about self-sacrifice and teamwork; embraced values like honesty and courage; showed respect for the outdoors; and simply have the time of their lives.

That's the adventure that Boy Scouts provides. Young people having fun, being happy, in an environment that fosters positive growth.

Of course, none of these activities and advancements happen without the efforts of NCAC registered adult volunteers. The success of the Scouting program depends on its community and volunteers who deliver the program. These everyday heroes help our youth develop self-confidence, decision-making skills and the strong character our country needs.

Local adult volunteers deliver on the promise of a dynamic, fun, educational program. NCAC unit leaders work diligently to ensure a quality Scouting program that is fun and safe for youth. NCAC places the greatest importance on creating the most secure environment possible for its youth members. To maintain such an environment, the council provided support, guidance and training to all unit leaders, including Youth Protection Training, which is required for all registered volunteers.